Difference between revisions of "Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle"
(28 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | + | {{Video Game | |
+ | | Title = Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle | ||
+ | | SortTitle = Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle | ||
+ | | Image = Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg | ||
+ | | ImageDescription = MS-DOS - USA - Micro Star. | ||
+ | | Developer = {{VideoGameDeveloper|id Software}} | ||
+ | | Publisher = {{VideoGamePublisher|Apogee Software}} | ||
+ | | PublishedYear = 1991 | ||
+ | | PublishedMonth = ?? | ||
+ | | PublishedDay = ?? | ||
+ | | Platforms = {{Platform|DOS}} | ||
+ | | Genres = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Comedy video game|Comedy}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Metroidvania|Metroidvania}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platform shooter|Platform shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}} | ||
+ | | Themes = {{MediaTheme|Action}}, {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Science Fiction}} | ||
+ | | Series = ''[[Commander Keen (universe)|Commander Keen]]'' | ||
+ | | Distributions = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}, {{VideoGameDistribution|Shareware}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | '''''Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle''''' is an action platformer game developed by [[id Software]] and published by [[Apogee Software]] for [[MS-DOS]] in 1991. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the [[Commander Keen (universe)|series]]. | + | '''''Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle''''' is an action platformer game developed by [[id Software]] and published by [[Apogee Software]] for [[MS-DOS]] in 1991, originally as [[shareware]]. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the [[Commander Keen (universe)|series]]. |
+ | |||
+ | ==Personal== | ||
+ | {{VideoGameStatus | ||
+ | | Own = Yes. 3.5" floppy released with Gravis GamePad. | ||
+ | | CantOwn = | ||
+ | | Won = Yes. Easy difficulty, all maps but secret level. | ||
+ | | CantWin = No. There is no single-player mode. | ||
+ | | Finished = Around 1992. | ||
+ | }} | ||
I first encountered this game because a special shareware version was included with the [[Gravis GamePad]] I bought around 1992. It had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a two-button controller. | I first encountered this game because a special shareware version was included with the [[Gravis GamePad]] I bought around 1992. It had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a two-button controller. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
− | + | {{Video Game Review|5|4|5|5|4|MS-DOS}} | |
− | |||
{{Spoilers}} | {{Spoilers}} | ||
Line 25: | Line 45: | ||
* Large sections of several maps, and even a couple of levels entirely, do not need to be entered in order to win the game. This is poor level design. | * Large sections of several maps, and even a couple of levels entirely, do not need to be entered in order to win the game. This is poor level design. | ||
* Far too much of the game is based on expecting the player to collect treats to accumulate points for no reason. | * Far too much of the game is based on expecting the player to collect treats to accumulate points for no reason. | ||
− | * | + | * None of the control options are very fluid. The keyboard isn't very good, the joystick doesn't handle enough buttons (trying to use two buttons to shoot often results in mis-presses), and movement on the pogo stick is slow and difficult to control. |
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
Line 34: | Line 54: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|Since this episode of the game was released as shareware, there aren't any professionally made boxes for the game. Instead, we see various cheap covers like this, with just a screenshot. | Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|Since this episode of the game was released as shareware, there aren't any professionally made boxes for the game. Instead, we see various cheap covers like this, with just a screenshot. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Documentation=== | ||
+ | <gallery> | ||
+ | Masters of Doom - Hardcover - USA.jpg|''[[Masters of Doom]]''. Describes the development process. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Line 57: | Line 82: | ||
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Well of Wishes.png|Well of Wishes. | Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Well of Wishes.png|Well of Wishes. | ||
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of the Forbidden.png|Pyramid of the Forbidden. | Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of the Forbidden.png|Pyramid of the Forbidden. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Screenshots=== | ||
+ | <gallery> | ||
+ | Commander Keen 4 - Secret of the Oracle - DOS - Screenshot - Title.png|Title. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Videos=== | ===Videos=== | ||
− | + | {{YouTube|iKHUOKVzo0Q|Longplay.}} | |
− | + | {{YouTube|XUbKZ-xIbqY|Speedrun, hard, any %, no glitches.}} | |
+ | |||
+ | ==Play Online== | ||
+ | {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/commander-keen-4-secret-of-the-oracle.html|MS-DOS}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Representation== | ||
+ | {{Representation | ||
+ | | Media = Video games | ||
+ | | StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail | ||
+ | | StrongFemaleCharacterNotes = Princess Lindsey is helpful, but a very minor character. | ||
+ | | BechdelTestStatus = Fail | ||
+ | | BechdelTestNotes = There is only one woman. | ||
+ | | StrongPOCCharacterStatus = Fail | ||
+ | | StrongPOCCharacterNotes = Princess Lindsey is black, but a very minor character. | ||
+ | | QueerCharacterStatus = Fail | ||
+ | | QueerCharacterNotes = There are no queer characters. | ||
+ | }} | ||
==Download== | ==Download== | ||
Line 75: | Line 121: | ||
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Commander_Keen_Episode_4:_Secret_of_the_Oracle}} | {{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Commander_Keen_Episode_4:_Secret_of_the_Oracle}} | ||
− | + | ||
− | [[Category: Video | + | [[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]] |
− | + | [[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]] | |
− | |||
− | [[Category: | ||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]] | [[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]] |
Latest revision as of 17:29, 7 March 2024
Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle | ||||||||||||||||
MS-DOS - USA - Micro Star. |
||||||||||||||||
|
Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle is an action platformer game developed by id Software and published by Apogee Software for MS-DOS in 1991, originally as shareware. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the series.
Contents
Personal
Own? | Yes. 3.5" floppy released with Gravis GamePad. |
---|---|
Won? | Yes. Easy difficulty, all maps but secret level. |
Finished | Around 1992. |
I first encountered this game because a special shareware version was included with the Gravis GamePad I bought around 1992. It had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a two-button controller.
Review
5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Best Version: MS-DOS
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- The game is both fun and challenging.
- The graphics and animation are well-drawn.
- Bobby Prince's music and sound effects are great.
- The story is pretty funny.
- The game is quite large with a lot of levels to play.
Bad
- Like most DOS games, the EGA colors were way out of date compared to the consoles of the day, although the great art style makes up for it.
- Large sections of several maps, and even a couple of levels entirely, do not need to be entered in order to win the game. This is poor level design.
- Far too much of the game is based on expecting the player to collect treats to accumulate points for no reason.
- None of the control options are very fluid. The keyboard isn't very good, the joystick doesn't handle enough buttons (trying to use two buttons to shoot often results in mis-presses), and movement on the pogo stick is slow and difficult to control.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Media
Box Art
Documentation
Masters of Doom. Describes the development process.
Maps
Screenshots
Videos
Play Online
Representation
Strong female character? | Fail | Princess Lindsey is helpful, but a very minor character. |
---|---|---|
Bechdel test? | Fail | There is only one woman. |
Strong person of color character? | Fail | Princess Lindsey is black, but a very minor character. |
Queer character? | Fail | There are no queer characters. |
Download
Commander Keen is still being sold, but this episode is a shareware release. This archive contains shareware and demo releases for versions 1.0 to 1.4 for both EGA and CGA graphics.
Links
- Video Games
- 1991 Video Games
- Video games developed by id Software
- Video games published by Apogee Software
- DOS Games
- Video Game Genre - Action
- Video Game Genre - Comedy
- Video Game Genre - Metroidvania
- Video Game Genre - Platform shooter
- Video Game Genre - Platformer
- Media Theme - Action
- Media Theme - Adventure
- Media Theme - Cartoon
- Media Theme - Science Fiction
- Software Distribution Model - Commercial
- Software Distribution Model - Shareware
- Video Games I Own
- Video Games I've Beaten
- Video Game Rating - 5
- Video Game Graphics Rating - 5
- Video Game Sound Rating - 5
- Video games which can be played online
- Video games without a strong female character
- Video games that fail the Bechdel test
- Video games without a strong person of color character
- Video games without a queer character
- Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy
- Trope - Damsel In Distress
- 4-bit Color Graphics